Homemade Applesauce!

Tummy's never cared for applesauce much but Mr. Borscht loves it and I just happened to run across a rather simple recipe for it in one of my favorite cookbooks: The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, so as always, the adventurous Tummy decided to try it.

First of all, if it was any other cookbook with an applesauce recipe I probably may have skipped it, but so far most everything I've tried in this particular cookbook has turned out great, with a little tweaking here and there to meet my specific needs that is.

This recipe is really as simple as 1-2-3. Peel, core and quarter the apples which goes into a large over-proof pot along with zest and juices of oranges and a lemon, cinnamon, allspice and some brown sugar.

One thing I've learned about Barefoot Contessa from this cookbook is that a lot of recipes that contain sugar tend to be sweeter than I like, so I adjust by 1/2 the amount accordingly, I did so with this recipe as well and it came out perfectly.

I added a couple of red apple peels as suggested to give the sauce a pretty pinkish hue, perhaps I didn't put enough red peels in to cook with the apples because the applesauce was still an unattractive brown, but that's okay.

You pop it into the oven for 1.5 hours, I only made half the amount just incase I didn't like the recipe, I didn't want to have jars and jars of applesauce I didn't like, if you're making 1/2 the amount still put the apples in to bake for 1.5 hours. And once you take it out vewy vewy carefullly with oven mitts and all, whisk away- it's that easy! And Wah-La! Homemade applesauce!!!

I know it doesn't look very pretty but trust me it tastes great- and I don't even like applesauce. Today for breakfast I got buttered toast and smeared some applesauce on it- absolutely DELISH! I've converted myself into an applesauce loving gal!

Applesauce recipe instructions are below.

I like to collect jars believing that one fine day they'll come in handy, and they have- just look below, now my applesauce are beautifully jarred :)

Ina Garden's homemade applesauce from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook:

What you'll need:

Zest & juice of 2 lg navel oranges

Zest & juice of 1 lemon

3lbs Granny Smith Apples

3lbs Sweet red apples

1/2c light brown sugar, packed

1/4lb unsalted butter

2tsp ground cinnamon

1/2tsp ground allspice

What you'll need to do:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Put zest and juice of the oranges and the lemon into a lg bowl

Peel, core & quarter apples place them in the same bowl and toss

Pour the mixture into a dutch oven or enameled iron pot

Add the rest of the ingredients & toss

NOTE: add a couple of peels from the red apples to color the applesauce

* Site Search

* Welcome

I live in LA & spend way too much time fulfilling my gastro needs. I love to eat and with good company. Always remember the dining experience is not just about eating but the atmosphere, company and conversation too.

One of my goals for 2013 is to eat out less AND to cook at home more by spicing up my kitchen life, this means cooking foods that I don't usually. Oh this will be fun!